Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans….

It was 47 years ago today…..

On Sunday just gone, two albums from the past celebrated birthdays. The first, and most successful being “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles, their eighth studio album and secondly, a debut by a young British singer that went by the name of David Bowie.

Bowie’s self titled and poor selling debut was a record heavily influenced by British entertainer, Anthony Newley whilst The Beatles poetic masterpiece went on to influence generations of musicians. It won four Grammy awards in 1968 including best LP, the first rock album t do so.

In the time since release “Peppers” has sold over 40 million copies world wide, making it one of the highest selling LPs of all time. Bowie’s debut has sold an estimated 60,000 copies since its release.

I cannot help but wonder how these LPs would have been received today had they been let loose among the internet generation? Would The Beatles of today been allowed to release such an unconventional and experimental album? And, had Bowie’s debut hit the market in 2014 would he have been allowed a second chance after such poor sales on a debut album? We must not forget that Bowie released a further three studio efforts before he rose to any kind of significance with “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars”. I fear not.

June 1 1967. A day when the music world was changed forever with the release of two very unique and quirky albums.